Laurie Sutherland of Fabius was proud to wear pink at the Baldwin “Run for Their Life.”

Sunny skies, running shoes and pink t-shirts were the order of the day last Sunday as 1,600+ Central New Yorkers ran or walked in the first annual “Run for Their Life,” a fun fundraiser organized by the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund of Central New York. Money raised by the Oct. 23rd event supports breast cancer research at Upstate Medical University.

The crowd cheered as Carol Baldwin, 81, breast cancer survivor and founder of the charity, shouted into the microphone, “I plan to live to 110 and keep working to defeat breast cancer!”

Many sported the fun accessories that the charity is known for: wrist bands announcing “save the boobies” or “fight like a girl” and pink t-shirts with “save the tah-tahs” emblazoned across the silhouette of a lace bra. Some wore custom outfits: hot-pink brassieres over t-shirts, a full-body stuffed pink ribbon, magenta boxer shorts and socks (worn in honor of a grandma, we hear). One runner had pink hair and at least one dog wore pink.

Dads jogged with babies in strollers, an elderly woman used a cane to walk the 5 K, couples held hands as they ran, and school kids ran in groups (West Genesee, Christian Brothers Academy, Ed Smith Elementary and Nottingham High School, to name a few.)

It was a celebratory way to bring people together to raise awareness of — and money for — a serious medical issue.